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Cyclops holds the power to shatter mountains with but a glance. Spider-Man wields the amazing abilities of an arachnid. The Scarlet Witch warps the very fabric of reality to her will while her brother, Quicksilver, runs at speeds that shatter the sound barrier like cheap glass.

These four examples don't even begin to touch the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the powers and abilities of the various heroes of the Marvel Universe, who walk or fly amid everyday denizens like gods among men. However, this comparison between titans of yore and the champions of today may extend beyond metaphorical hyperbole and straight into analogous reflection. With the upcoming INCREDIBLE HERCULES epic "Assault on New Olympus," writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente plan on exploring this concept by pitting some of the Marvel heroes against their mythic counterparts.

In "Assault," the Hercules recruits some of his Mighty Avengers compatriots along with a few other allies to take down the Olympus Group, a powerful organization comprised of various Greek deities. The event begins November 4 with the ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS PROLOGUE and continues in the pages of INCREDIBLE HERCULES proper. In preparation of the upcoming clash of the titans, Van Lente shares his thoughts on the super-powered protagonists and their mythological likenesses.

SPIDER-MAN"For centuries West Africa had a wise-cracking trickster spider-hero, except he's called Anansi. And, come to think of it, he's appeared in both AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and INCREDIBLE HERCULES before, in the latter to

call out Athena's plot against the Skrull gods. Will he make an appearance in ASSAULT to help Peter Parker against the Olympians? Only time will tell."

SPIDER-WOMAN"A dark angel who fights shape-shifting demons? Sure, sounds like Jessica Drew, but it could also be Kali, the Black One of Hindu mythology, the multi-limbed-like a spider! Get it?-goddess of time and change."

WOLVERINE"Pointy things in his hair? Check. Expert hunter? Check. Weapons master? Check. Regenerates like nobody's business? Check. No, I'm not talking about Logan aka James Howlett aka Wolverine but Cernunnos, Horned Gods of the Celts and the leader of the Wild Hunt. Wolverine could just be the latest manifestation of a long human cultural tradition of an invincible feral predator."

QUICKSILVER"Why over-think this one? The speedy Hermes or Mercury is definitely Pietro's antecedent-but are they as prickly as he is? Hercules may find out the hard way."

HANK PYM"Changing one's size is an old power of gods, particularly trickster gods in the myths. In 'Assault on New Olympus,' the Wasp will find himself going up against Argus, who, thanks to being a giant, is already something of a giant-man. But also, because of his hundred powerful eyes, he can spot Pym no matter how small he shrinks-to Ant-Man teeniness or even

smaller. Argus will prove a formidable counter to Pym and a valuable member of Hera's forces."

USAGENT"John Walker sees himself as an agent of Union, but in ASSAULT he finds himself opposing Eris, the goddess of discord and strife and sister to Ares. So she's a formidable foe for anyone, much less USAgent."

AMADEUS CHO"Cho's hypermind lets him make infinite simultaneous calculations, but even his engineering field is matched by Hephaestus, the Smithy God of the Greek pantheon. Hephaestus' technical wizardry let him create the impenetrable Aegis, worn by the deceased New Warrior of that name, and the metal Adamantine that makes Hercules' mace stronger than even Wolverine's claws. Hephaestus has hatched a pact with Amadeus' beloved, Delphyne Gorgon, to take down Cho's mentor, Athena, and so has come up with the perfect trap to ensnare even a genius like Amadeus. What is it? Read ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS and find out, folks."